On the evening of Sunday, December 2, 400 members and friends of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in the Richmond area donated 85 large trash bags of coats and other winter clothes to the International Rescue Committee (IRC) as part of the Church’s Light the World kickoff event. Light the World is a worldwide initiative of the Church to follow the example of Jesus Christ and to give as He gave. Those in attendance were encouraged to keep serving and also to encourage others to serve throughout the month of December.

The International Rescue Committee in Richmond helped relocate 150 people in 2017 into the Richmond area, and they are expecting to help around the same number this year. IRC in Richmond Site Manager Stephen Allen attended the event and said “this donation is going to have an amazing impact. It’s showing everyone who’s coming in that people in Richmond care about them. They want them to feel warm and secure in their new home.”

Kasey Tross, Director of Public Affairs for the Chesterfield Stake of the Church, helped organize the event and also spoke. She encouraged listeners to serve others and then leave with them a sign depicting a lighted candle with the words #LightTheWorldRVA and instructions to share the light with others through service and also through social media. Signs and suggestions for ways to serve were handed out and can also be found online at www.rvalatterdaysaints.com. Instructions with the sign state “It could be as simple as placing a kind note on your spouse’s steering wheel or as complex as a food drive...the options are limitless.”

One of the attendees was Sister Sanchez, a missionary for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. When asked about the Church’s Light the World initiative, she said, “What I truly like about it is that it doesn’t take a lot to serve others. It’s small acts that we can do that really bring a smile to someone’s face.”

Those interested in donating winter clothing to the International Rescue Committee can drop donations off at their offices located at 8100 Three Chopt Rd, Suite 128, in Richmond. More information about the restored Church of Jesus Christ and Light the World can be found at www.LightTheWorld.org.